Note from Balaam's Ass Speaks Editor: It seemed to me that I should
not change the text in any way, even for spelling. I want the color and
authenticity of the writer from Pakistan to show through. This is a verified factual
and very sad report. It does show that persecution is still the hallmark
of true Bible based Christianity. Mr. Frank Khan of Michigan can varify
all of this from his experiences as a Christian under persecution in Pakistan.

November 1996

Under severe Islamic Religious domination, the miseries of the Christians in Pakistan
are enormous and visible everywhere and at every level. Pakistan came into being
on August 14, 1947, after the partition of the sub-continent of India which was
under British Rule due to the Political struggle of different political leaders.
Even though the founder of the nation had said on August 11, 1947, "The religion
has nothing to do with State Affairs", but now the religion of Islam has a dominating
status in the Constitutionalized political, judicial, social, cultural and governmental
systems. Islam is the official state religion. Being enforced as the supreme law
of the Land is the Islamic Shariah, the judiciary, legislature and executive are
also working under the constitutionalized law. All the laws are being modified
and reframed according to the injunctions of the Quran, which is the Holy Book
of Muslims. The present constitution, political system and government are undemocratic.
No more Democracy. Theocracy is prevailing in Pakistan.

Under this system,
the Christians of Pakistan have neither equal political, socio-economical status,
nor the equal access to available opportunities in playing a leading role in the
national set-up.

Though Christians believe and consider themselves to be first
class citizens of Pakistan, the present political system believes the Christians
are second class citizens and are practically at the lowest level. The fact is,
Christianity has been in existence since the first century, while the Islam and
Muslim came much later in the subcontinent of India.

Constitutionally, no
Christian has the entitlement to become President, Prime Minister, Chairman of
the Senate, or the Speaker of National Assembly (Parliament) of Pakistan. Under
the Constitutional bindings, the policies and practices have been adopted by all
government and judicial functionaries to ignore and neglect the Christians every
time, everywhere at all levels.

None of the Christians are in a position as
the Chief of Army, Navy, Air Forces, Paramilitary forces, police, CIA (Pakistan),
FIA, CID or etc. There are no Christian Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant
commissioners. There are five Sectariates (four provincial and one federal) comprising
of a different departments where you cannot find in all of Pakistan. In the judiciary,
there are no Christian Judges in any High Court, while there are four High Courts,
Supreme Court, Federal Shariah Court, nor is there any Christian judge working
as a District Session Judge in Pakistan. The exact same situation prevails in
Education and other departments.

The doors of the jobs and entries to get
education at lower and higher levels have been closed under unwritten conventions.
The Christian Educational institutions, which were running and managed by the
churches were taken over by force, nationalized by the Bhutto government in 1972.
Now, no more Christian character is being seen in these Islamized Christian Institutions.
Lots of other non-Christian Institutions have been denationalized and given to
their real owners but the reason is not known why the Christian Institutions are
not being denationalized and given to the churches. The present government is
bent upon the policy of privatization of Public Revenue Run Sectors, but the government
is very much reluctant to take any step to hand over the Church properties-institutions
to the churches in Pakistan. At present, more than 5000 jobs, which were for Christians
are now held by the Muslims.

Because of this the 5000 or more Christians have
been forced to be unemployed and thousands of dependents have been deprived of
their livelihood. These institutions were the basic centers for learning, social
and cultural gatherings, spiritual development for the Christians. Christian teachers,
professors, or students are not seen there. Now these institutions are the dens
of automatic weapons and training centers for religious terrorism.

Due to
the nationalization of Christian Educational Institutions and abolishing of the
reserved seats for minorities in the government institutions in 1972, there has
been an increase of the Christians in illiteracy and poverty. At present, 4% of
the women and 8% of the men from the Christian community are literate. Therefore
96% women and 92% men are suffering in the extreme darkness of illiteracy and
poverty. According to the Unesco Report issued in 1993, Pakistan is significantly
lacking in the field of Education, thus Pakistan is 200 years behind in Education
with a literacy rate of 27%. WITH THIS CRITICAL SITUATION, THE CHRISTIANS WILL
ENTER INTO THE 21st CENTURY. SHALL THE CHRISTIANS MARCH INTO THE 21st CENTURY
AS SLAVES--ILLITERATE, SUFFERING IN EXTREME POVERTY, AND UNEMPLOYED AND UNDER
SEVERE ISLAMIC DOMINATION, NO MORE A FREE CITIZEN OF PAKISTAN?

According to
the liberal press media in Pakistan, hundreds of Islamic religious schools, called
"Maddrassas" are run by different Islamic Religion Political Parties and groups
which were allowed and funded by General Zia-ul Haq, military ruler are the camps
where terrorism is taught, promoted and reported on very scientific lines. Many
Muslim and other countries have complained that the ground of Pakistan is being
used for International terrorism. Even the Prime the Minister of Pakistan had
admitted this fact as she demanded help from the USA to curb religious terrorism
in Pakistan. Heaps of the latest sophisticated automatic weapons have been hoarded,
used for training and active operations in these Islamic centers. This is
not only a threat to the non-Muslim of Pakistan but this is alarming threat to
the global peace, particularly to the Western World. These words have been voiced
by the Clon Communication Center in Germany.

Not all Muslims in Pakistan are
terrorists. There in big majority of them that want to live in a tolerant society
and brotherhood atmosphere. However, more than 20 Islamic Religious parties are
misusing the name of Islam, instigating illiterate Muslims against the Non-Muslims
(Christians, Jews, Hindus) that Jehad (Holy War) has to be launched against them
to bring the Islam at glorious status. These Religious parties are successfully
influencing (poisoning) the Muslims in general to be brutal hard-liners against
the Christians and other non-Muslims. The governments of the past and present
have always been under the pressure of these extreme Islamists. They have always
been part and parcel to the Government. This is why they have been successful
to get Islamic Shariah and different Muslim law enforced.

The government delivers
political statements from time to time in the favor of the non-Muslims minorities
when some dignitary or delegation is to visit Pakistan or when the Prime Minister
is on tour to any country of the Western World. These statements are only spoken
words in the air, just like lip service, never has any notification been issued
for the socio-economic and educational development. There is a rigid and
permanent policy to erode the rights of minorities and curb them by different
methods.

There in always a naked and sharpened Islamic Sword hanging on the
necks of innocent Christians in Pakistan in the shape of the Law (Blasphemy Laws
295.B and 295.C of Pakistan Penal Code). If any person disgraces or insults the
Quran, then he has to be punished by imprisonment for life (295.B) and likewise
if any person writes, speaks, illustrates or does any action in a disgracing or
insulting manner, then he or she shall have to face capital punishment, there
is no fine or life imprisonment.

There are also many other blasphemy laws
through which there are severe punishments but these (295 B 295.C ) are open license
in the hands of Muslim Fundamentalists to kill Christians and other non-Muslims.
Muslim hard-liners religious scholars often deliver verdicts and print the posters
on the walls stating to kill a certain person because he/she is blasphemous to
Mohammed, the Holy Prophet of Muslims. It is also stated that whosoever kills
a blasphemer of their prophet shall go into Heaven freely. They promise the killers
their entry to heaven. This law has been widely misused by the Muslim hard-liners
to implicate many Christians in Pakistan.

THERE
HAVE BEEN MANY EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS OF CHRISTIANS.

1. Niamat
Ahmar very highly qualified, second headmaster (teacher) form one government High
School, poet, writer was butchered with a butcher knife in the daylight, out of
the government office, in the presence of lots of people, mainly Muslims. His
body was cut into the pieces, the killer was speaking loudly with religious verses,
slogans that he had killed a Christian blasphemer. The large crowd of Muslims
were watching the brutal scene and later they garlanded the killer that he had
done the noble pious work of killing a Christian. This had happened in Faisalbad,
a district of Punjab.

Niamat Ahmar had neither spoken, nor written a word
against the sanctity of their prophet. It was just a matter of a transfer case
so one teacher could be at the school where Niamat was teaching. The government
and the people of that area wanted to keep Ahmar there because he was a very hard
worker and good, capable teacher. The other Muslim teacher who wanted to come
in his place made a dirty plan. He wrote some hand bills by his own hands, posted
on the walls. Those hand bills aroused the emotions and religious feelings. Then
a man was instigated, and prepared to kill Niamat Ahmar. The Sipahe Sohabah of
Pakistan was the main master mind behind this plot. Last Year Niamat's daughter
was burnt to death also by the Muslim Fundamentalists.

2. There has been registered
a blasphemy case against one Christian man named Anwar Masih. Anwar Masih once
became a Muslim and was put to addiction to Hashish and Heroine. He had a good
physical stout structure. The Muslims did not want to see a very healthy Christian
man. When he turned back to Christianity this was considered a severe blasphemy
to their prophet. One day, when he was purchasing something from a shop, where
the shopkeeper (under plan) started shouting that Anwar Masih was denouncing the
name of their prophet. As he saw the situation, he sought the refuge and shelter
in the Church of Samundhri where he was arrested by the police. There was a big
gathering to kill him, but the police took him into custody at the jail in Faisalabad.
He has been waiting for trial for three years during this time many attempts have
been made to kill him in the jail. He is a family man, father of three children.
His parents are elderly people and have no job. Anwar was a driver.

The whole
family is going through great tribulations. Not only the parents and relatives
but also the other Christians in Faisalabad, rather in Punjab are having great
harassment and great danger.

3. Iqbal Tahir, a new Christian convert from
the Muslim Community, ex serviceman, an electrical technician from the Air Force,
was killed mysteriously in a Lahore jail. When Tahir became a Christian, he started
to give testimony how he became a Christian and why he left Islam. This action
was considered blasphemy. He was giving testimony that different verses
of Quran and so teachings of their prophet were very much contradictory to his
understanding. He had also been marking and underlining the verses of Quran which
were the points of talks. The case was registered under 295.B (disgracing to the
Holy Quran) then later he was also booked under 295.C. The Lahore District &
Session and High Court Judges refused to grant him bail as he had applied, he
sent applications to the state authorities that his life was in great danger because
he was receiving threats of dire consequence. He was offered if he would deny
Jesus Christ, accept Islam again he would be released and his life would be safe.
As he refused to become Muslim, he was killed by the wardens and fellow prisoners
as he was nominated a blasphemer.

4. A victim of blasphemy law named Manzoor
Masih from District Gujranwala was shot dead in Lahore outside of Lahore High
Court on April 5. 1994 by the Islamists hard-liner as he along with other victims
of this law were on their way home from the court hearing waiting for the bus.
Four Muslim terrorists came and fired at them. There Manzoor Masih died on the
spot. The other three were injured seriously. This was another extra judicial
killing.

The Muslims did not wait for the judgment from the competent court.
They tried to kill the victims. Actually, a false case was registered against
Manzoor Masih. Rehmat Masih and Salamat Masih, that one of them, Salamat Masih
was writing blasphemous words on the wall of the mosque with a stone of brick
and some chits were thrown in the mosque by them. Trial had been going on in Gujranwala,
then was later transferred to Lahore Session court -here both Rehmat Masih and
Salamat Masih were sentenced for capital punishment by the Additional Session
Judge in Lahore. Then an appeal was filed against the judgment. The Double Bench
of Lahore High Court continued hearing for seven days where they were acquitted
free. This blasphemy case against the victims proved to be false. This case became
well known on the Intentional level. The Press and electronic media came from
all over the world, especially from the Western World. The Muslim Fundamentalists
have been demonstrating against the Judges of Lahore High Court, Benazir Bhutto,
the Prime Minster, and against the Christians. The hearings of this case have
been heard, observed, and reported by myself. It is also known to the diplomats,
international Human Rights Organizations, and even to the Government authorities.
At this time Rehmat Masih and Salamat Masih are in Germany on Asylum.

5. One
Bantoo Masih, an aged man who was brought to the police station at Lahore Cantt,
as he was accused of blasphemy where his case was being registered. While there
one Muslim stabbed him and he died after a few days. No case was registered against
the killers. He is at large in Lahore and is boasting to be a hero who has killed
a Christian Blasphemer to Mohammad, the Holy Prophet of the Muslims.

6. Mukhtar
Masih, as evangelist and aged man, was tortured to death as he was brought in
by the police in Nishtar Colony, Model Town, Lahore that he had written some blasphemous
letter to the Muslim Priest of a Mosque. The Police had arrested six Christians
belonging to one family to find that by whom the letter was written. The police
had been beating and interrogating them with third class methods. The others were
in good health and could bear the torture, but Mukha Masih, being an old man,
died by the police torture.

There are many cases of blasphemy law, pending
in different courts, waiting for their fate, but some have gone into some unknown
hiding. However, the Muslim Fundamentalists are after them to search and kill
them whenever the Muslims can find them.

The fanatical and rigid Muslim Mullans
(Priest) often say in the public meetings that all Christians are blasphemers
because they (Christians) believe that Jesus Christ is a Son of God and He is
God. Moreover, Christians believe in the Trinity. They believe Jesus Christ
was crucified, died on the cross, buried, arose after three days, ascended into
heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God and he has the full authority of Heaven
and earth.

The whole Christian teaching is against the Holy Quran and sayings
of the Holy Prophet of Mohammad. If Christians may not commit blasphemy against
the Islamic teachings but the faith and creed of the Christians which is not in
the conformity of the Holy Quran and Holy Prophet Mohammad, thus Christians are
accounted to be blasphemers. In this situation the Christians have no religious
freedom at all. They can neither profess their religious dogmas and creeds, nor
can they propagate their faith, nor even exchange the religious ideas or feelings.
The Christians feel completely insecure in the presence of this law. Often in
different offices, markets and working places, the Christians are threatened.
Their voice is brought under domination that the ( Christians) shall be implicated.
The Christians face hanging sharpened and naked swords everywhere in Pakistan.
Perhaps there are none in the whole world who could compel the Government and
people of Pakistan to bring the sword into the cover, in other words. These laws
(295 B & 295.C PPC) could be repealed. This was more than 10 million Christians,
Hindus, Ahmadies and other non-Muslims could be saved from being butchered from
time to time under the pretense of these blasphemous laws.

Many Christians
are being killed by the police and by the general fanatic Muslims at different
places in Pakistan just for nothing. The Government of Pakistan is very much reluctant
to take notice of the brutality being brought on the Christians. Described very
briefly are some of the Christian killings:

1. Two Christian young men were
killed in Christian locality Basti kassoke, in District Hafizabad. The police
did not try to investigate to find the killers. This happened in May, 1996.

2. Rehmat Masih died by police torture while he was in their custody. This happened
in Lahore in the month of April 1996.

3. A young man Christian Rashid Masih
was killed by the police in jail. Kot L'akhpat, Lahore. The police was interrogating
with third class methods to get him to confess to some uncommitted crime. Due
to the severe torture, he died in the jail. This happened in the month of April,
1996.

4. Two persons Munir Masih and his oldest son, Emanuel, were killed
in Narowal Punjab, but the police did nothing to find the killers. This happens
in the month of April. 1996.

5. A Christian young man, Roni Daniel, was killed
by the police in a fake police encounter on March 7, 1996.

6. Two Christian
young men, Jawed Masih and Sohail Masih, were killed in Lahore by the police and
other Muslim men.

7. A Christian young man, Nawab Masih, was killed by the
police during a fake investigation and torture. He was taken by CIA Police of
Lahore, Pakistan and there he was killed.

The Christians of Pakistan are completely
voiceless, powerless, and helpless. They cannot do anything against the brutal
police and feudal landlords.

The sufferings of the Christian women are very
troublesome. They go through a different kind of brutality. Under the Islamic
Laws. the rights of the women folk have been eroded. Women are not equal to the
men folk. In Pakistan two women are equal to one man. Under the Islamic Evidence
Act, whenever any woman is raped, and she wants a criminal case registered against
the rapist, she has to produce four Muslim men as witnesses. No women or non-Muslim
men or women. If any Christian woman is raped in a Christian house or school hostel,
then from where can a woman produce four adult Muslim men? The evidence of the
Christian, be that a man or woman, has no validity against any Muslim rapist.

Hundreds out of thousands of Christians women are going from house to house
to clean their lawns, toilets, cattle stables, and carry the garbage and human
waste in the basket on their heads. These women are treated inhumanely as members
of the lowest class community. Their situation there is just like slaves to the
Muslim masters. These women and girls are often kidnapped, raped and made Muslims.
Then they are married to the Muslim men. Whenever the parents or husbands
of these women approach there to take their women back, the Muslim kidnappers
and police authorities scold and rebuke the Christians and tell them to go away.
Now this Christian woman has embraced Islam and is no Muslim according to the
Islamic Law. The Muslim woman should not reside into the Christian house. With
this way the Christian families are going through the worst type of breakage,
obstruction of a Christian family.

Only in one city, Lahore, where the population
is more than 5 million, 23 000 Christian women have been forced by the unavoidable
circumstances brought on them by the legalized-socialized slavery system to clean
toilets, houses, streets, lanes, and roads. 7000 Christian men then carry the
human waste and filthy garbage on their heads, or on the bull carts going through
the streets and store at the filth and garbage depots. In other words, one Christian
must clean the filth made by 100 Muslims.

Untouchability and detestability
are the signs for the Christian community. Untouchability is not prohibited
in the legal frame rather from all sectors. This is promoted against the Christians.
All of the jobs, which are considered the most degradable, untouchable or considered
below their Muslim dignity are reserved for the Christians. The Christians are
treated inhumanely, socially the degraded and of the lowest community. They are
not allowed to enter the dining rooms or kitchens while they are cleaning the
houses. Nor are they allowed to sit on the furniture, where Muslims have to sit.
The Christians are hated at the worst level, but their women are chased, kidnapped,
raped and even made to be Muslims by force. Then they are married to the
Muslims without obtaining their willingness. The woman's thumb impression is taken
by force on a white paper, afterward a statement is printed that the particular
Christian woman has embraced Islam becoming a new Muslim, and has shown her willingness
to marry the particular Muslim man (he is often much older than her). This way
the Christian families are broken, the married women's children are left unattended
to be destitute.

When these Christian women raise their voice against the
brutality, then they are threatened along with their Christian relatives including
parents, brothers and sisters they would be killed. If not killed directly then
they would be implicated and booked under the blasphemy laws for which there is
only one punishment, i.e. Capital punishment death. The Christian women, as domestic
servants, have to work for extremely low wages. Their wages are not increased
nor are they allowed to work at the place of their choice. Whenever they try to
leave and find some other job, they are booked under false charges of theft. When
the Police torture the Christian men and women, even the police officials rape
the women without the fear of any legal bindings. Here are some incidents of kidnapping,
raping and forcing of the Christian women to become Muslims during the few months
in this year.

1. According to the newspaper, The Daily Jang, May 1, 1996 Edition,
a Christian girl, a daughter of Tara Masih of Village No. 46, Sangla Hill was
taken out of her house at gun point at midnight where she was gang raped. When
the relatives tried to rescue her, they were fired upon. Tara Masih is a very
poor man. The police had not done anything against the criminal because they are
feudal landlords, very rich and influential.

2. According to the News item
appearing on March 17, 1996, Nawai Waqat Urdu Daily, two Christian girls along
with one other Muslim girl were abducted and there is no clue of their whereabouts.
It is learned that the kidnappers are very influential. The victims are very poor
Christians.

In September, 1996, it is learnt that both have accepted Islam
as their new religion and have married to two Muslim police officials. The parents
could do nothing except to shed tears.

3. A Christian girl named Surryia Bibi,
daughter of Salamat Masih, student of the 10th class, 17 years old resident of
House No 901/ E Sector No. 3, Avenue Sir Syed Rawalpindi was kidnapped on the
16th of March, 1996 by one Muslim, Abid Hussain. The Christian girl has been made
Muslim, then married to the kidnapper-rapist. The parents and other relatives
of the girl have approached the police of Rawalpindi, refused to do anything because
the girl is no longer a Christian but Muslim and they cannot do anything. Source:
the brother of the kidnapped girl approached the office of P.C.C.C. Lahore with
an application.

4. One Christian woman named Razia Bibi, (wife of Boota Masih,
resident of the village No. 81. G.B Tehsil District, Faisalabad) was kidnapped
at gun point on March 20, 1996 at midnight by two Muslims, Mohammed Mumtaz Taj
and other man, where she was raped by those two persons.

The Christian woman
and her husband approached the police and medical authorities but none of them
listened to the cries of the victims. Then the victims filed written petition
in Lahore High Court for redressing their grief but this time Senior Supdt. Police
has been directed to probe the situation. The case has been registered against
the rapists, arrested, and have been sent to prison.

5. Two minor Christians
girls in the district Sahiwal were kidnapped, raped, then made Muslims with force.
As the father approached the police it was learnt that police could not favour
the victims because the girls are now Muslims and have married to the Muslims.
If the father could embrace Islam and become a Muslim, then they would be allowed
to go to their father's house, otherwise the Muslim girls cannot live with Christian
parents. As of yet the girls are still in the custody of kidnapper as they are
Muslim feudal landlords where the father of the girls was working as a land tiller
(bonded laborer) .

There are many incidents of the brutality brought on Christians
by Muslims. The Christian localities (village), their churches, their houses,
their grave yards are demolished, their belongings are looted by Muslims. Whenever
these Christians approach the authorities, they always show insensitivity towards
the Christians. Rather Christians are treated with eternal religious animosity.
Names of some Christian villages are being mentioned which have become the target
of Muslim attackers.

1. Village Mattah, District Lahore

2. Village Bath,
District Lahore

3. Village Jindre, District Lahore

4. Village China Basti,
District Lahore

5. Village Dhobhi Serai, District Lahore

6. Village Ahata
Thanedar District Lahore

7. Village Raiwind, District Lahore

8. Village
Martinpur, District Sheikhupura

9. Village Youngsonabad. District Sheikhupura

10. Village 113. Sangla. District Sheikhupura

11. Village Sacha Sauda,
District Sheikhupura

12. Village Singhra, District Sheikhupura

13. Village
Qila Diar Singla, District Gujranwala

14. Village Khan Jaja, District Sialkot

15. Village Fauji Quarters (Army), Peshawar

16. Village Dogaich, District
Lahore

Many more villages, localities of the Christians, have been bulldozed.
They have been made homeless, shelterless, they were forced to become unknown,
unrecognized, unregistered refugees in their own home country. Whenever the Muslim
refugees come into Pakistan, they are provided with all their basic necessities
by the government of Pakistan as well as by the western countries, but sorry to
say that the Christians are looted by the Muslims whenever they get a chance to
deprive them of the belongings they have.

Economically, the Christians have
been crushed, down trodden, illiterate, backward by Muslims under the gradual
process of dominating policy. The Christians have no possibility of having any
leading role in the National Building Program. In all of Pakistan there are no
Christians who own any factory, industry, mill, shipping or transportation corporation.
Nor do any Christians run any shopping plazas, department stores, or agricultural
farm where he could employ five or ten Christians. The Christians are the poorest
community, much below the average of poverty level.

The destruction of the
poor is their poverty--Proverbs 10:15

There is nothing through which the Christians
could influence the Muslim majority. Whatever the Christians had (educational
institutions, agricultural land, the services in all department industries of
government) were taken over by the Bhutto Government in 1972. The Bhutto Government,
General Zia-ul-Haque, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto have done almost their best
to do nothing for the betterment of Christians for their socio-economic, educational
development. Rather they (governments) have played a very important role to use
all the legalized, consitutionalized methods to crush, eliminate the Christianity
from the land of Pakistan.

The Christian money in the shape of grants, aids
under different packets from the western world have been used for the destruction
of Christians in Pakistan. The whole Christian community is under the great danger
of blasphemy laws. All the pastors, clergies, evangelists, social and human rights
activist, Christian politicians, and all other Christian leaders are under the
severe target of Muslim extremists, terrorists and other Muslim hard-liners. Even
police authorities are chasing the Christian leaders how they could be brought
under the implications, especially those Christians religious ministers, human
rights activists who show special concern to the Christian victims, their life
and properties, families and interest are under great danger. The names of some
of the Christians clergies, social-human rights activists who are being threatened
time to time by the Muslim terrorists, extremists and even by police are being
described.

In chak and village
No. 353 EB, Tehsil Arifwala, Distt. Pak Pattan, Punjab Pakistan where naked brutality
was staged and the eighteen Christian families were the target of this brutality.

This village is situated in the south of Lahore at the distance of 230 km
and at 7O km in the south west of Sahiwal a Distt. of Punjab-Pakistan where the
Christians have been implicated in the blasphemy cases. Fir has been registered
against Ayub Masih? The police are conducting the investigation.

On October
16, 1996, two Christian brothers named Ayub Masih and Bhola s/o Inyat were beaten
with kicks, fists and clubs so severely that they seemed nearly dead.

They
were taken to police post near the village. The police of the post took them in
custody and later on to Police Station Sadar in Arifwala. Now it is learnt that
Ayub Masih and Bhola are somewhere in Sahiwal.

Ayub Masih and two sons of
Mohammad Sultan, Mohammad Akram and Moharnmad Aslam, by profession cobbler of
the same village, had an exchange of hot words. They started quarreling, slapping
and kicking each other on a dispute of Residential plot (Ahhatta) in the village.
One of the parties wanted to have possession of the plot.

One Christian and
some other Muslims intervened and made this combat quiet for the time being. Then
Sultan, the Cobbler, approached one very influential person of the area Ch. Aziz
s/o Fateh Mohammad (His 8 members of the family are is USA) and Larnbardar of
the village, Mohammad Sharif s/o Abdul Rehman. There three of them turned this
land dispute into a Religious issue. They started denouncing the Christians as
blasphemers and instigation, propagation was the campaign that Ayub Masih and
Bhola are blasphemer.

The extremists were mainly stressing that Ayub Masih
is the main blasphemer, and he must be hanged. Ayub Masih is educated with first
division in Matric and F.A. An educated Christian is always disliked by
the religious hard liners and extremists.

A big crowd gathered and came towards
the Christian houses. On seeing this instigated angry, emotional crowd, Ayub Masih
tried to escape. This crowd was chanting the slogans against Ayub Masih. The crowd
of the Muslims got hold of him and they started beating him and his brother, Bhola,
with kicks, fists, clubs-- whatever way they could. They thrashed both the brothers
until they became nearly dead. They were taken to the police post near the village.

Later in the evening the crowed became more bigger, and started to march towards
the police post where the strength (number of police cops) was not enough to control
the situation, then these two Christians were taken immediately to Police Station
Sadar in Arif Wala (Tehsil Sub division).

Then in the evening of same wednesday,
16th Oct 96, the Muslims Priest of the village with the help of Aziz s/o Fateh
Mohammad, Sultan Cobler and Mohammad Sharif s/o Abdul Rehman Lambardar announced
in very angry mood, with full incitement & instigation that all the Christians
of the village have to go out of their houses & village before the dawn of
Thursday otherwise they & their houses shall be burnt. This announcement was
they made in furious tune at least five times after little intervals. Whole Muslim
community was being prepared to believe that the Christians were the blasphemer
to Holy Prophet so that no body could come forward to help Christians. Some Muslims
youth started to walk in those streets where the Christian houses were situated.

When the Christians saw this horrifying situation, they became horrified under
great panic. They could do nothing except to flee from their houses with their
kith and kin but totally empty hands.

They were forced to become unrecognized,
unregistered refugees in their own home and land. The small children, old folks,
girls, men and women were running in the darkness of night to some unknown destination.
There was only one thing in their mind--to run and run to save their lives, otherwise
they would be burnt and killed.

These eigthteen Christian families which were
comprising of more than 135 members were sitting on the bank of a canal under
open sky without any shelter. The names of these bewildered and persecuted families
are as:

There are other seven families
which are in the neighboring village, who are under great harassment, for they
are also being threatened for severe consequences as they tried to help the victimized
Christians of village No. 353 EB.

On Thursday, 17 th October, 96 Arifwala there was much demonstration
of the Muslims including all religious sects, political parties (PPP-PML-N) and
Tehsil Bar Association that, Ayub Masih to be hanged publicly & openly in
Arifwala. In the city there had been a great panic & harassment for the Christians.
The Muslim leaders who had addressed the procession were Qazi Khalid Mahmood president
Bar Association, Khalid Imtiaz Ali Khan Advocate, Rana Zahid, Iqbal Advocate,
Sofi Mohammad Rashid President Merchant Association , Moulana Abdul Wohab, Maulana
Qari Jamal Qadari, Maulana Shammus-ul_Din, Hafiz Saeed Ahmad and Hafiz Abdul Ghafar.

They all had been demanding hanging for Ayub Masih, More over, the president
of the citizen Association Nawid Tariq, General Secretary of Bar Association Chaudhari
Zaheer Aslam Gujar, Rana Ijaz Rasool PML-N Leader, Rana Tariq Mahmood, Peoples
Party Leader Tika Mohammad Nawaz Khan and Main Mohammad Ashraf Joyia ex MPA, all
have stressed the death for Ayub Masih.

The police have been advised and directed
by the high authorities to protect the Christians, which they did well. But the
Maulvies (Muslim Priests) were preaching fire, killings and hatred against the
Christians. The blasphemy Law has produced many folds in tolerance and hatred
against the Christians and other non-Muslimscommunities. This law has to be repealed.
There is great need of religious tolerance, harmony and love to be promoted amongst
the communities of different sects and religions.

Bashiran Bibi, the mother
of Ayub Masih, is begging everyone who meets her, to save the life of her son
from the uncommitted offense and its punishment. There in Arifwala and Pak Pattan,
no lawyer is willing to defend Ayub Masih due to the pressure of extremists. However,
some human rights activists and lawyers working in such organizations are planning
to move a request in the Lahore High Court to get the case transferred in Lahore
from Pak Pattan, as the case of Rahmat, Salamat and Manzoor Masih was transferred
from Gujranwala to Lahore. There are some implications to get every thing in order.
As this time investigations are being conducted to complete the case to be presented
to a magistrate or a judge. Police is not giving the accurate information of the
process of the case.

ANOTHER BLASPHEMY CASE:

A Christian professor, Peter John s/o Sohan Lal Masih, permanent resident
of village 74-75/9L Chichawatni District Sahiwal Punjab very highly qualified
Msc gold medalist and M. Phil, top in Physics from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad,
age 28 years, working as professor in Government Degree CollegeKamalia District
Toba Take Singh, has been falsely implicated in blasphemy case in July 1996.

This young Christian man who is very highly qualified talented man joined his
services in this college in 1992. He had a good repetition and respect amongst
his college and students in the college. But a few Professors who belong to a
rigid and extreme fundamentalist group, Sipaha-e- Sohabah Pakistan, have a jealously
grudge (hearted) towards the Christians especially against him. They instigated
some of the students who later on started to accuse him as the Blasphemer to their
Prophet. On 29th July 1996, when there was Muslim festival, Eid Milad-ul-Nabi
(Birthday of Muhammad, Peace be upon him) it was announced among the college students
that Professor Peter John was a Blasphemer worthy to be killed. On 3rd August
1996, three times a gang of Sipaha-e- Sohahah, under the leadership of Kaleem
Ullah, attacked on his house, started beating him, dragged him towards the car
but the neighbors who were not aware of him as so-called Blasphemer reached and
rescued him out of their hands. This gang had a plan to kidnap and kill at the
bank of a river and throw his body into the river. But God has saved him through
the help of his Muslims neighbors. However, the same night, very late, through
other Christian friends he managed to escape away from Kamalia.

Now he is
some where in hiding place. This situation was brought to the knowledge of higher
Authorities in the Federal and Provincial Governments who managed some how that
case was not registered. The Deputy Commissioner of Toba Take Singh has transferred
him to the Government Intermediate College Thikariwala District Faisalabad where
there is already one Christian Clerk in the College has been implicated in such
a case. Situation there in also tense. The Sipaha-e-Sohabah is well organized
fundamentalist organization in the sameFaislabad Area. One Christian Head master,
Niamat Ahmer, was butchered and another, Anwar Masih, the victim of Blasphemy
law ,is suffering lying in Faisalabad jail. Now the highly educated Christians
working in different departments, on some posts are worried that it is very easy
to pull them down or kill them brutally with the implication of the Blasphemy
law. This case has not got much publicity because Government doesn't want to let
the people know that this Blasphemy law is being used against the Christians to
settle their personal scores and revenges. This information has been confirmed
by his Christian colleague, Professor Mr. Jacob Paul, Digree College Kamalia.
It is also in the knowledge of Rt. Rev. John Joseph Bishop of Faislabad (Roman
Catholic).

FIVE CHRISTIANS IN THE POLICE CUSTODY:

From different three Christian families, five persons are in the
police custody (lockup) in Liberty Gulberg-Lahore Police Station. Their names
are as:

1. Justina d/o Matchless Masih, age 13-14 years.

2. Sabina w/o
Matchless Masih, age 28 years.

3. Matchless, 30 years.

4. Gulfam Masih,
age 18-19 years.

5. Aslam Masih, 30 years.

The Fir has been written
against the relatives of Matchless Masih i.e. Bashir Masih. Gulfam Masih and Aslam
Masih only. There were no names of the family of Matchless.

Story has been
told that one Noor Mohammad Arbab, Chairman Race Club, very close relative of
Arbab Sakandar, ex senator the pathans, Pushato speaking from the North Western
Frontier Province, has house in Liberty Gulberg where only very rich people live.
His house No. 22/D. Gulberg, Liberty Market, where Matchless with his five children,
wife, lives in the servant quarter. His daughter, Justina, used to work as cleaning
girl. She used to go there at 5 am and return at 11:30 pm, nearly midnight. This
was her daily routine.

In August, 1996, Mrs. Arbab wanted that this girl should
accompany her as a servant to Peshawar for which she herself and her parents refused
to accompany. In the same, there used to be three watch men belonging to
the northern area, Mr. Arbab living in Lahore. He did not accompany her wife.
While she was in Peshawar there was theft case. Fir was registered in Liberty
Gulberg Police Station in August of theft case of amount Rs 250.000. Police started
investigation. That time there was no name of Justian, Sabina and Matchless. But
the police just inquiring which were their relatives. They gave the names of their
relatives. They gave the names of their relatives, the police entered their names
in the Fir in August, and this time the police did not arrest them, neither made
any interrogation.

One new thing has been reached that thieves were three
in good health, strong body built, with weapons. One of the watch men said to
the police that thieves were having gun point at him. He said to the police that
if the Mr. Arbab would come to police Station he would be able to disclose the
name of the thieves. Mr. Arbab did not turn police station. It is learnt that
Mr. Arbab has two wives. One is married, legal wife and the other is a keep. Whenever
his legal wife goes out, she usually enjoys the days with her husband. Mr. Arbab
knows who are the thieves. But his legal wife is very hard, clever with
question mark character. This woman says she will spare every one but she will
not spare the girl, Justina. Now Mrs. Arbab says that the theft amount has gone
up to Rs. 15.00,000.

Thus the police have been very hard to the victimized
but after proper interrogation, the police have come to the conclusion that these
Christians are innocent.

One retired Col. of Pakistan Army says that she wants
to use this girl for some other motive purpose. One thing is very much known,
that girls and women are openly sold in the North Western Frontier Province near
the boarder of Afghanistan.

Here a big struggle is being made to get them
released by all different means. We got them released through Judicial Magistrate
but Police is still harassing them.

SOME INFORMATION
OF PERSECUTION IN OTHER ISLAMIC COUNTRIES:

1. Eighteen Churches have
been burnt and five Christians, including one Pentecostal pastor and his wife,
have been killed by the Fundamental Muslims in Indonesia.

3. An Iranian pastor Assembly of God, Rev. Mohammad Baghaer Yusefi, has been
found dead near his house on 28th, 29th September, 1996. Later on, the authorities
informed the family members that his body was hanging on a tree.

Rev. Yuseti
has been martyred because he was a Christian leader from a Muslim back ground
in Iran.

A Christian woman domestic servant named Rani
w/o Javed Masih, aged 35 years, ailing with T.B, working as cook in the house
No. 17 E.l. Gulberg Lahore of Mr. Zaheer Ahrnad Khan, Senior Advocate of Lahore
High Court, has been taken to

CIA Police Station Model Town Lahore by Ch.
Mehraj A.S.I Asstt. Sub. Inspector of police of the same police station where
she was forced to sit in nearly for half day and to confess the uncommitted theft
in the house of Zaheer Ahrned Khan.

It is learnt that no application was presented
by Mr. Zaheer Ahrnad, nor any FIR or theft case has been registered anywhere against
Rani but Mr. Zarnan Khan D.S.P. CIA Model Town gave verbal order to ASI to produce
Rani, interrogate her for theft case. She has been going for days regularly for
the interrogation, as yet nothing has been found from her of any kind of material
of theft.

When Mr. Zaheer Ahmad Khan was contacted, he informed that he had
no knowledge of such kind of any thing had happened in his house ,when, by whom,
and who had done, why Rani had been implicated. But it is learnt that one of his
sons named Mustafa Khan, a third son, husband of three wives, having no source
of regular income, police tout-informer and friend of D.S.P. C.I.A. Model Town,
is the main person, stresses the police to interrogate Rani for undone theft case.

The Police and he (Mustafa Khan) are threatening her for dire consequences
if she is not going to confess the theft crime. She is bodily very frail and weak,
being T.B. patient. She is weeping and fasting to her God to protect from the
hands of brutal.

This Rani being sick person is not in a position to work
since 7:00 am and 12:00 midnight for 17 hours daily. She had been working for
two and half years but she left the work about three months ago. In her absence,
a theft case has been fabricated. Then she has been called from her village for
the interrogation. The wife of Mr. Zaheer Ahmad Khan and his son, Mustafa, wanted
her to work for them. Due to their hard and inhuman treatment and low salary,
no servant likes to work for them. The Christians, being very very poor and neglected
member of society, are often willing to work there. When they go through experiences,
they try to leave the work. Then they (Christian) are implicated--trapped in false
theft cases. So, one Christian, Mariam Bibi, cook for the same family, was also
involved in such kind of false case. And she had been suffering a lot, then left
work in a troublesome situation.

They want that Rani must work for them. If
she does not then she has to go into prison.

One of the watchmen of the same
family was beaten very severely by Mustafa Khan. Then the watchman told
to Rani that better she should flee away, otherwise this Mustafa Khan would beat
her more severely. There was a story about five or six months ago. Mrs. Zaheer
Ahrnad Khan went to attend some function herbrothers house where her tooth fallen
down. She went straight to Dentist where she left some of her jewelry in her bag,
There those her belongings were lost but that time there was nothing case of theft
against Rani.

Now this poor Rani, illiterate, mother of three children, is
being mentally tortured and terrorized for nothing. They want to keep her as slave-bounded
labor. Her physical health condition does not permit to work for the whole day
under heavy psychological pressure. She needs sympathy, but she is facing hardships.
The oppressors are very strong, influential and rich people. But this oppressed
woman is very poor, frail, sick and belonging to the neglected community, the
Christian of Pakistan.

This Rani w/o Javed Masih was interviewed on 31 October,
1996, in the vicarage of St. Johns Church, Church of Pakistan, Liaqat Abad Kot
Lakhpat Lahore, in the presence of Mr. Iqbal Masih, Manzoor Masih, Mr. Rehrnat
Masih, Mr. Niamet Bernard and Rev. John Victor Mall, the pastor in charge of St.
Johns Churchwhere she had stated be troublesome story. She will go again to police
station for investigation. She does not know what kind of brutal treatment she
shall face.

As is learnt that ASI Mehraj of CIA Model Town Lahore has got
her thumb impression printed on pure white paper by force. As yet nothing is known
which kind of statement has been writing by the ASI, either against Rani or in
her favor.

RECOMMENDATIONS: HOW THE CHRISTIANS
OF PAKISTAN CAN BE BROUGHT OUT OF SLAVERY AND SEVERE ISLAMIC DOMINATION:

There are so many possibilities with which the Christians could be brought
out of slavery.

1.The Christian teaching (Gospel) has to be preached amongst
the Christians, especially amongst the Christian youth and children so that they
can have a strong faith with a deep Christian understanding in the Lord Jesus
Christ to face all challenges, along with their old folk. People shall be aware
of the Truth (Jesus Christ) and the Truth shall liberate them. Revival meetings
with full evangelizations have to be conducted more and more in all of Pakistan
with full support of the churches and prayer groups of the global churches.

2. Different programs and projects have to be launched for Socio-economic and
Educational Development of the Christian Community with short and long range possibilities.
For example, literacy classes, vocational and technical training centers, primary
and high schools, and workshops where different skills are taught as well as practical
work is done. Private and foreign run sectors should be sought to get jobs and
commercial and computer centers started for training with boarding hostels. Nursing
training institutions have to be established for educational purpose. Christians
who are wandering hither and thither like refugees have to be rehabilitated in
small Christian villages near the big towns and cities so that they could earn
their livelihood and learn some skills for their better future. Especially, women
development centers have to be established to save them from the brutality of
Muslim masters where they are kidnapped, raped, made Muslims and married to the
Muslims at gun point. The Christian organizations, churches and other human rights
organizations have to play a very important role to save the Christians form the
slavery and religious domination. The Christians in Pakistan cannot do anything
themselves. They need moral, spiritual, political and financial support to achieve
the goal and to have equal status in all fields of life.

3. The seminars,
workshops, get-together meetings have to be held for awareness of the human rights
situation, to exchange ideas, feelings, thoughts and to adopt some precautionary
measures and chalk out some programs. This way they shall be able to come out
of the inferiority complex. They shall be able to be steadfast in every kind of
situation and they can march with honor and respect into the 21st Century.

HOW OTHERS CAN HELP CHRISTIANS IN PAKISTAN:

The Pakistan Christian Community Council recommends very strongly that all
the politicians, liberal writers, Human Rights Activists and all others who believe
in democracy and in the Charter of Human Rights of UNO should work together and
stress to the government of Pakistan that she should try her best to repeal and
abolish all the discriminatory dominator laws including the 295.B and 295.C of
the PPC. The cases registered under the sections 295.B and 295.C must be withdrawn
and the victims have to be acquitted honorably.

The educational institutions
which were belonging to the churches, nationalized in 1972, should be handed over
to the real owners (Churches) without imposing any condition, exactly in the same
condition of 1972, after officially denationalizing

The opportunities and
possibilities for obtaining jobs must be made compulsory though reserving 20%
seats in all entries into all ministries at all levels. Under the same pattern,
the entries into all educational institutions for general, professional and technical
education, 20% to be reserved and made compulsory.

The agricultural lands
which have been snatched from the Christians under different pretenses must be
returned to the Christians.

The true democracy must be promoted, the Constitution
of the country must be brought into the conformity of the Charter of Human Rights.

The Government must adopt all democratic methods conducting seminars, get-
together meetings and workshops to create and promote the atmosphere of mutual
understanding, brotherhood, religious tolerance and social harmony. The Government
and her functionaries must try their best to avoid, rather than discourage, the
spirit of religious instigation, incrimination against the Christians and other
non-Muslims minorities.

It is the duty of the government of Pakistan to provide
full protection to the non-Muslim minorities so that they can enjoy all their
religious, political and educational rights according to the charter of Human
Rights.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO COULD PLEAD THE CASE
OF THE OPPRESSED AND PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS IN PAKISTAN IN THE GLOBAL SOCIETY WHERE
IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO ABIDE BY THE LAWS OF THE CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACCEPTED
BY THE U.N.O?

1.Open thy mouth for the dumb (speak for those who
cannot speak) in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy
mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. (Proverbs
31:8, 9)

2. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and
those that are ready to be slain. (Proverbs 24:11)

3.Thus saith the LORD;
Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand
of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless,
nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. (Jeremiah 22:3)

4. So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun:
and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and
on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. (Ecclesiastes
4:1)

5. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him
it is sin. (James 4: 17)

6. The Lord Jesus Christ said, "The Spirit
of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for
the blind, to release the oppressed." (Luke 4: 1 8)

If anyone wants
to have more information regarding the persecution and torture for Christ in Pakistan,
please feel free to contact me at the postal address:

1. In all fairness, we observe
that some Muslims aided Christian victims when under attack. This is not
some basis for ecumenism. It simply shows that man, who is in the image
of God, is not 100% unable to feel sorrow for other men. It must not be
used as a basis for "coming together." That can only be by the power of
the Gospel. But we must not be unfair in speaking of ALL Muslims as animal in
nature. Indeed, this terror is most always the product of a handful of devil
possessed Mullahs and their devilized followers.

2. We note with sorrow
the call for help from the world community of unsaved do-gooders. We know
very well that the Liberal one worlders will gladly let Christians die and suffer
with not attention to their needs. This is exactly what Bill Clinton and
the UN did with the 400,000 Sudanese Christians who were marched into the African
dessert and left to die. Thus, we must pray mightily for these Pakistani
saints as they suffer. These days can be a foundation for much power, revival
of the Church, and evangelism. THAT we can encourage in them.